1917
Donald
2016
Donald R. Marsh
November 1, 1917 — August 2, 2016
Donald R. (Don) Marsh was born on a cold day in November 1, 1917 in Carlisle, Iowa. His mother was Maud Myrtle (Henry) Marsh, and his father was Vernon Marsh.
His only sibling, brother Theodore (Ted) Henry Marsh was born two years later. At the age of seven Don accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior in a service at a small Brethren Church.
World War 1 was raging and work was hard to find, so the little Marsh family ended up in Ames, Iowa, where mom cooked at a fraternity house (leftovers helped to feed the family), and Don’s parents bought a house right near the college and rented rooms to students. Don and Ted were able to attend Iowa State University for very little money. Don studied Electrical Engineering and received his degree in 1940. Don and Ted sang together since childhood, and added singing in quartets and choruses while in college.
In the Spring of 1939 Don’s friend, Earl Davis invited him to ride with him (in the rumble seat of a Model A Ford Coupe) all the way to New York City to look for a job in his field. While working for RCA in a manufacturing plant in Newark, New Jersey, he went with his friend, Earl, to visit a church in New York City and met his future bride, Lilia Melida Rodriguez, whom he described as
“the prettiest girl he had ever seen.” They were married In New York City, at the Chambers Memorial Baptist Church on November 30, 1940. They were married for almost 76 years. World War 2 was beginning and dad was not accepted in the service because of flat feet.
After their marriage, Don and Lilia moved to Camden, New Jersey, where Don began working for the RCA Corporation, He began working for the US Navy, developing Sonar technology for submarines, and over the next 43 years working on other important projects line the Ballistic Early Warning System (BMEWS), communication systems for the first moon landing, and America’s first microwave communication system on for the New Jersey State Police. As Don always did, he found a way to use his gift of singing in a way to serve his God. He sang in a nationally broadcast church service (the Young People’s Church of the Air, with evangelist Percy Crawford) as long as it was broadcast.
During those years Don and Lilia bought some land in Cherry Hill, New Jersey and physically built their new family home at 401 Columbia Boulevard. Daughter, (Dolores) Linda, and three sons, Donald Theodore, Richard (Dick) Vernon, and Edward Stephen came along starting in 1941. Don started dabbling in sound recording, building a professional company (AMP Recordings), specializing in recording high school, college, and church choirs, bands, and orchestras. When his son Don wanted to do his first recording, his dad was able to the job. He supported his musical children by buying them instruments, paying for lessons, putting them in a private Christian school, and sending them to outstanding Christian colleges. Linda, Don, and Dick all graduated with no debt and, sadly, Edward Stephen passed away from Hodgkin’s Disease while in college.
After retirement, in 1983, Don and Lilia moved to Lilia’s first homeland of Puerto Rico, while their children married and built careers in music, ministry, and Christian broadcasting. Grandchildren came along: Peter and Sheri to Linda and Rev. David McKechnie; Shawn, Todd, Ryan, and Kyle, to Don; Amanda, Erik, and Donald Jordan to Don and Lorie Marsh; Jade Justin, Johnny, and Jacqueline to Dick Marsh.
Over the years Lilia and Don moved to Franklin, Tennessee, and ultimately, to Lynchburg, Virginia where Donald Theodore teaches music at Liberty University.
Donald Roy Marsh died peacefully with Lilia and loving family members nearby. He is survived by Lilia, Linda McKechnie, Donald Theodore Marsh, Richard Vernon Marsh, 13 grandchildren, and 16 great grandchildren.
The impact of his life and service to his God, family, and others will live on, and his faith carried him confidently through his last days and into the presence of his Savior, Jesus.
He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
A celebration of Don’s life will be held at Heritage Baptist Church on Monday, August 8, 2016 at 2 p.m.
Don T. Marsh Link to Heritage Baptist live streaming of the Celebration Service for Donald Roy Marsh, Monday, August 8, 2 PM (Eastern time) https://www.ustream.tv/channel/hbclynchburg Address of the Heritage Baptist Church: 219 Breezewood Dr, Lynchburg, VA 24502 Phone: (434) 237-6505
His only sibling, brother Theodore (Ted) Henry Marsh was born two years later. At the age of seven Don accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior in a service at a small Brethren Church.
World War 1 was raging and work was hard to find, so the little Marsh family ended up in Ames, Iowa, where mom cooked at a fraternity house (leftovers helped to feed the family), and Don’s parents bought a house right near the college and rented rooms to students. Don and Ted were able to attend Iowa State University for very little money. Don studied Electrical Engineering and received his degree in 1940. Don and Ted sang together since childhood, and added singing in quartets and choruses while in college.
In the Spring of 1939 Don’s friend, Earl Davis invited him to ride with him (in the rumble seat of a Model A Ford Coupe) all the way to New York City to look for a job in his field. While working for RCA in a manufacturing plant in Newark, New Jersey, he went with his friend, Earl, to visit a church in New York City and met his future bride, Lilia Melida Rodriguez, whom he described as
“the prettiest girl he had ever seen.” They were married In New York City, at the Chambers Memorial Baptist Church on November 30, 1940. They were married for almost 76 years. World War 2 was beginning and dad was not accepted in the service because of flat feet.
After their marriage, Don and Lilia moved to Camden, New Jersey, where Don began working for the RCA Corporation, He began working for the US Navy, developing Sonar technology for submarines, and over the next 43 years working on other important projects line the Ballistic Early Warning System (BMEWS), communication systems for the first moon landing, and America’s first microwave communication system on for the New Jersey State Police. As Don always did, he found a way to use his gift of singing in a way to serve his God. He sang in a nationally broadcast church service (the Young People’s Church of the Air, with evangelist Percy Crawford) as long as it was broadcast.
During those years Don and Lilia bought some land in Cherry Hill, New Jersey and physically built their new family home at 401 Columbia Boulevard. Daughter, (Dolores) Linda, and three sons, Donald Theodore, Richard (Dick) Vernon, and Edward Stephen came along starting in 1941. Don started dabbling in sound recording, building a professional company (AMP Recordings), specializing in recording high school, college, and church choirs, bands, and orchestras. When his son Don wanted to do his first recording, his dad was able to the job. He supported his musical children by buying them instruments, paying for lessons, putting them in a private Christian school, and sending them to outstanding Christian colleges. Linda, Don, and Dick all graduated with no debt and, sadly, Edward Stephen passed away from Hodgkin’s Disease while in college.
After retirement, in 1983, Don and Lilia moved to Lilia’s first homeland of Puerto Rico, while their children married and built careers in music, ministry, and Christian broadcasting. Grandchildren came along: Peter and Sheri to Linda and Rev. David McKechnie; Shawn, Todd, Ryan, and Kyle, to Don; Amanda, Erik, and Donald Jordan to Don and Lorie Marsh; Jade Justin, Johnny, and Jacqueline to Dick Marsh.
Over the years Lilia and Don moved to Franklin, Tennessee, and ultimately, to Lynchburg, Virginia where Donald Theodore teaches music at Liberty University.
Donald Roy Marsh died peacefully with Lilia and loving family members nearby. He is survived by Lilia, Linda McKechnie, Donald Theodore Marsh, Richard Vernon Marsh, 13 grandchildren, and 16 great grandchildren.
The impact of his life and service to his God, family, and others will live on, and his faith carried him confidently through his last days and into the presence of his Savior, Jesus.
He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
A celebration of Don’s life will be held at Heritage Baptist Church on Monday, August 8, 2016 at 2 p.m.
Don T. Marsh Link to Heritage Baptist live streaming of the Celebration Service for Donald Roy Marsh, Monday, August 8, 2 PM (Eastern time) https://www.ustream.tv/channel/hbclynchburg Address of the Heritage Baptist Church: 219 Breezewood Dr, Lynchburg, VA 24502 Phone: (434) 237-6505
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